Contents 1. Forum – Lancashire Voluntary & Community Faith Sector Consortium 2. Open House 3. Arts Events in Lancashire 4. Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Review 5. Young Pavement Artists Competition 2005 – Deadline 3 May 6. ‘A Giving Culture’ 7. Children and Young People’s Plan – Consultation 8. NW Network Top Tips for Volunteer Managers 9. Free Apprenticeship Training at Preston College 10. Free Residential Training Courses for Young People 11. Meeting Rooms Available 12. Educational Visits 13. Lolly Submissions 14. Resources 15. Useful Website 16. NCVO Launches MEP Secondment Scheme 2005 17. Consultation Under Way for Compact Plus 18. New Vision for Lancashire 19. Budget Yourselves 20. The Electronic Lolly 21. Brunshaw Action Group 22. Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 23. Have Your Say About Monitoring Accessibility 24. Could you get Money to Learn, Like Sophie? 25. The UK Charity Awards 2005 26. Funderfinder 27. Conference 28. Charities Bill Fails to Become Law 29. CAF Financial Investments Workshop 30. What a Picture! Photographers required in the North West 31. Attention all Mentoring & Befriending Projects 32. Inkinddirect 33. LPSA Target 11A – Funding for the Voluntary Sector 34. AOL Innovation in the Community Awards 35. Children’s Local Network Fund – Deadline 29th April 2005 36. Y Speak Consultation Fund 37. Bid Lottery Fund Confirms New Funding Programmes for England 38. Community Enterprise Fund 39. Argos in the Community 40. Futurebuilders – New Application Window 41. Community Trees Fund 2005 42. NCVO Funding for Income Generation LANCASHIRE COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY YOUTH SERVICES FORUM Lancashire Voluntary & Community Faith Sector Consortium Venue - County Hall on Wednesday 29th June 2005, 7 pm for 7.30 pm start You may reserve your free place by contacting the office on 01772 250001 Tea and coffee will be available. OPEN HOUSE LCVYS Open Evening Tuesday 17 May 6 pm to 8 pm Friday 10 June 5 pm to 7 pm Wednesday 13 July 6 pm to 8 pm If you want to practise using the resources, utilise the funding desk, use the Funderfinder software, look through the InKindDirect catalogue or get general support and advice, contact the LCVYS office and reserve your free place. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY You know you're old when you've lost all your marvels - Merry Browne ARTS EVENTS IN LANCASHIRE Inspired by Re-fashion www.vaengland.org.uk/artsevents8058 Re-fashion: Meet the Artists www.vaengland.org.uk/artsevents8047 Both events take place in Manchester at the Chinese Arts Centre. For more details visit the websites or call 0161 8327271 or email info@chinese-arts-centre.org EDUCATION MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE (EMA) The Department for Education and Skills is revising the EMA guidance for 2005/06. NCVYS has been asked to review and comment on the revised guidance. Please get in touch if you would like to be involved with this. Email: ellie@ncvys.org.uk YOUNG PAVEMENT ARTISTS COMPETITION (YPAC) 2005 YPAC is a partnership with schools, youth clubs, organisations and councils to provide equal opportunities for all children, no matter what their ability or disability, to meet, draw, unlock their imagination and have fun. It offers the opportunity to Chalk for Cash to raise money for your school/club. Children and teenagers aged 4 to 18 years can take part. Closing date for Enrolment Forms (available from the web-site) is 3rd May. Email: bbate@nypac.freeserve.co.uk Website: www.youngpavementartist.co.uk Contact Barbara Bate, Organiser, Young Pavement Artists Competition, Vine Farm House, Lower Street, Tilmanstone, Deal CT14 0JD Tel/Fax: 01304 611428 A GIVING CULTURE’ A discussion document has been published on the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's engagement with the voluntary and community sector. Visit wwww.culture.gov.uk/global/consultations/2005+current+consultations/a_giving_culture.htm?properties=2005+current+consultations%2C%2Fglobal%2Fconsultations%2Fdefault%2C&month= to download the document. Responses should be emailed to: agivingculture@culture.gsi.gov.uk by 30 May 2005, or to Henry Burgess, DCMS, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH (020) 7211 6139. If you have any questions or complaints about the process of consultation on this paper, please contact Liz Sweet, Consultation Co-ordinator, Strategy, Policy and Delivery Division, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH, email liz.sweet@culture.gsi.gov.uk CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S PLAN - CONSULTATION A consultation has begun on the regulations and supporting guidance for the strategic, overarching plans which are to be produced in all local areas for services to children and young people (children’s trusts). The consultation closes on 6 June. Visit the website www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1294 NW NETWORK TOP TIPS FOR VOLUNTEER MANAGERS How many of you are experienced volunteer managers, yet still come across useful tips which help you in your role? Would you like to share these tips with others? Please send your top tips for managing volunteers so they can feature them in the Volunteer Management section of their newsletter and website – deadline for submission in the next Newsletter is 6 May 2005. Please send your top tips to: dan@nwnetwork.org.uk FREE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING AT PRESTON COLLEGE Preston College is in receipt of funding from the ESF to support ethnic heritage young people. The funding must be claimed soon. Do you know someone who could benefit from an individually tailored training package to provide the skills needed to undertake an apprenticeship within the college commencing in September 2005? To qualify they must be aged 16 - 24, from an ethnic heritage background and not currently engaged in employment, education or training. Contact Hannah Winkley on 01772 223104. If they don’t hear from you before the 29th April the funding may no longer be available. FREE RESIDENTIAL TRAINING COURSES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE The Young Movers Programme at Trafford Hall is offering free training to community groups who have genuine volunteer support. Courses are for groups of 6 young people and 2 adults who are interested in setting up a local community project. Courses are 4 day residential, during school holiday periods and include sports, visual and performing arts, outdoor and group activities. After courses, groups can apply for a small grant of around £300 to help their project really happen, as well as being provided with a range of materials to help them organise their project. Courses with current availability are: Culture & Diversity (31 May - 3 June) - Organising celebratory events and festivals. Includes dance, visual arts, games and music. Appreciating the Environment (1 - 4 August) - Outside activities & creating community recreational spaces. Includes gardening, visual arts, cycling. Decision Making & Communication (8 - 11 August) - organising effective campaigns, committees and forums. Includes music, teambuilding, visual arts, drama. Organisational Skills (15 - 18 August) - Organising tournaments and competitions. Includes sports, teambuilding, visual arts. An application form and course programme is available for download from www.traffordhall.com/youngmovers.html. If you would like to talk to someone about availability on these courses you can call 01244 300 246 and ask to speak to Kate. Also contact her if you would like to be added to their mailing list or if you would like to be sent programmes to pass on to other people. MEETING ROOMS AVAILABLE LCVYS have two meeting rooms available for use. Based in the centre of Preston on Guildhall Street, this is an ideal venue for groups, of up to 8 (small room) or up to 30 people (large room), wishing to meet in professional surroundings away from their normal venue. Hot and cold drinks facilities are available. LCVYS also has a range of resources and office facilities available at a cost (free to LCVYS member organisations). The rooms are available during office hours of 9.30 am - 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday but may also be booked at weekends and evenings by prior appointment. Contact LCVYS for rates and availability. EDUCATIONAL VISITS The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a report on the drowning of a ten year-old boy during a school activity weekend in 2002. The aim is to communicate the lessons learnt and provide practical advice to those organising educational visits. Visit www.hse.gov.uk/schooltrips for information LOLLY SUBMISSIONS Do you have an event in the future you wish to publicise? Has your group had an event you want to tell others about? Have you recently been successful in a funding application and want to tell other members what you have achieved with the funding? Do you have any employment opportunities? If you would like to submit an article for inclusion in the next edition of the LCVYS Lolly Newsletter, the deadline is Friday 13th May. It’s simple enough to submit an article. Just email the item (with a picture if possible) to val@lcvys.org.uk. We are also happy to accept articles by fax or post if you prefer. Contact details are on the front page of this newsletter. The newsletter is circulated to over 1300 readers in either hard copy or by email. It’s also available on the LCVYS website: www.lcvys.org.uk. Details of how to receive a copy of the electronic newsletter, free of charge are on page 5 of this newsletter. Alternatively to receive a hard copy at a cost of £15.00 per annum email val@lcvys.org.uk or call 01772 250001 or fax 01772 250042 RESOURCES LCVYS is able to support its members by loaning out certain resources that many organisations cannot afford to buy themselves. Available to our member organisations, are: Combined TV and Video player, 6 in 1 sack truck, Over-head Portable Copier, Laptops, Thermal Binder, Flip Chart Board, Laminator, A 3M Projector, suitable for using for large audiences and on large screens, fastfold 6’ x 8’ screen with front and rear projection cloths, VCR, Digital Camcorder, Digital Camera, access to an interactive whiteboard, Sony projector, a small portable PA and much more. Within the office a scanner and CD Writer, DVD writer, a colour laser printer, duplex black and white printer. Visit www.lcvys.org or call LCVYS on 01772 250001 USEFUL WEBSITE www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/index.shtml contains information and advice about work, travel, relationships, bullying, body image, bereavement, race, health, finance, housing, religion, addiction, disability, gap year, exams etc. On visiting the website you will find contact details and website addresses for all kinds of different organisations able to help and support you. NCVO LAUNCHES MEP SECONDMENT SCHEME 2005 The MEP Secondment Scheme has been running since 2003 and matches Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to voluntary organisations to enable MEPs to gain a greater understanding of the voluntary sector and for organisations to better understand the European Union, its processes and potential influence. MEPs who take part in the scheme see the range of activities an organisation takes part in - from decision making by trustees and management to fundraising, campaigning and project delivery. The secondment lasts up to 5 days with a large organisation, spread over a year and 2 days with a smaller organisation. In return, the MEP hosts someone from the organisation in Brussels, Strasbourg and/or in the constituency so that they gain a better understanding of MEPs' work. For more information and to apply to take part in the scheme in 2005, email NCVO's European and International Officer Nolan Quigley on nolan.quigley@ncvo-vol.org.uk to ask for an application form. CONSULTATION UNDER WAY FOR COMPACT PLUS The Compact sets out a series of undertakings to which the Government and the voluntary and community sector agree. This consultation document proposes a model for strengthening the Compact, which could form the basis of a 'Compact Plus'. The Government is committed to gathering the widest possible set of views before deciding the best way to proceed in these areas. This consultation period runs for sixteen weeks until 12 July 2005 - and there will be a series of consultation events over the coming months to ensure that the views of all those with an interest are heard. The Government will work with the voluntary and community sector and the Compact Working Group on the future development of Compact, with the aim of publishing final joint proposals in autumn 2005. Details of the consultation can be found at: www.info4local.gov.uk/searchreport.asp?id=23948&heading=e-mail+alert NEW VISION FOR LANCASHIRE Ambition Lancashire is a partnership of Lancashire County Council, district councils, police, NHS and others, who have teamed up to take forward plans for a new-look county. Visit the website and take a look. www.nwnetwork.org.uk/index.php?page=browse&cat_id=34 BUDGET YOURSELVES Budget Yourselves software, designed to help smaller voluntary and community groups create and use budgets has now been refined and brought up to date with Version 2. It is now easier to link budgets together or create cost centres or project columns within an overall budget. It runs on any Windows machine from Win95 onwards. Download it for free from the website www.funderfinder.org.uk/budgetyou.php THE ELECTRONIC LOLLY Free subscription is available to all for the electronic version of this newsletter which is published monthly. Send an email with the words “subscribe lolly” in the main body of the email to: majordomo@lcvys.org.uk and you will be added to our list and receive confirmation by return email. To receive the latest copy of the Lolly by email at any time, send a blank email to: latestlolly@lcvys.org.uk within a few seconds the latest edition will be emailed back to you. BRUNSHAW ACTION GROUP Please find a list of dates below of events. If you can volunteer any of your time we will be very grateful please pass on this information to any groups/organisation. For more details contact 01282 715400 / 07984 145141 Community Choir for ages 9 years and over. Every Sunday 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm with John Garrett at Brunshaw Youth Centre for any young people from Burnley and surrounding areas to perform at The Garden Party, The Keirby Hotel and the Mechanics The Homefront Garden Party at Barnes Court, Grindleton Grove, Brunshaw Saturday 11 June 2005, 2.00 pm till 8 pm. Entertainment all day and buffet. Free event Volunteers needed to help with this event please contact Michael on 07984145141 Over 200 tickets have now gone! Stars in their Eyes - FINALS Burnley Mechanics on Saturday 30 July 2005 - 7.30 pm. Tickets selling fast Tel: 01282 664400 AUDITIONS FOR FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (XMAS PRODUCTION) For any young people aged 10+ at Brunshaw Youth Centre on Sunday 31 July 2005 at 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm. Everyone Welcome Burnley Community Carnival & Reach 3 Event Sunday 21 August 2005 Please can you notify residents / organisations groups in your area to get involved. Everyone Welcome. VOLUNTEERS WANTED! Please contact Michael on 07984145141 The Ration Book Performance 1st November at Burnley Mechanics. 7.30 pm performance Tickets Selling Fast. Telephone the box office on 01282 664400 QUEEN’S AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE To mark her Golden Jubilee year in 2002, Her Majesty The Queen announced the creation of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This Award recognises the vital role played by voluntary and community groups throughout the country. Lancashire has received 22 nominations for the 2005 Awards and currently the selection process is underway. As in previous years, the announcement of the successful groups will be made on 2 June 2005, the Anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Considerable publicity was carried out last year and the Lancashire Advisory Panel was delighted at the response. The Panel has begun the promotion for the 2006 Awards and is hoping to receive nominations from groups that are Excellent, Dedicated and Making a Difference to people’s lives in their communities. If anyone knows of a Group that is helping a community in an exemplary way, then nominate it for this national, non-financial, annual Award. Details may be obtained from Ian Johnston on 01772 533364 or e-mail ian.johnston@css.lancscc.gov.uk or visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk/ HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT MONITORING ACCESSIBILTY Disability organisations who provide services to their users via the web, and others who may need information on web accessibility, are being invited to contribute to the development of a monitoring tool. The European Internet Accessibility Observatory has already done its end-user consultation. A 15 minute survey to feed into requirements is in pdf form at www.eiao.net/Resources/Surveys/Questionnaire_for_web_developers.pdf. COULD YOU GET MONEY TO LEARN, LIKE SOPHIE? Juggling schoolwork with a part time job in a restaurant was a recipe for disaster for Sophie Mulcahy as she studied for her GCSEs. The pressure of working and studying really took its toll and despite gaining excellent grades Sophie knew she could have done better. Now studying for 4 AS levels, the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) has meant Sophie has been able to really get her head down and is well on her way to her dream career as a physiotherapist. Sophie comments, “I knew when I was studying for my GCSEs that I should have been working harder but things were tight at home and I really needed to work so that I could afford revision guides, books and things like school trips. I didn’t want my mum to worry about supporting me – but she wasn’t happy that I did late nights and long hours at the restaurant because it meant that schoolwork was not the priority it should have been.” Sophie always planned to go to sixth form after school and would have continued working long hours at the restaurant reducing her chance of success in her studies. Thanks to the £120 EMA she now receives per month she now only needs to work at weekends. As a result she feels able to dedicate more time to studying. “EMA has made my life easier and I know I am going to be able to do myself justice when it comes to sitting my exams because I can spend more time on studying rather than working”, commented Sophie. “If I am going to become a physiotherapist I need to get good grades to get into university so it is really important that I focus my attention on studying and EMA has helped me to do just that.” Sophie’s progress has been so excellent that she also received an EMA bonus payment in recognition of her good attendance and up to date coursework and is now learning to drive. Sophie said, “I got £100 bonus and that has paid for a few driving lessons – something that I probably wouldn’t have had the money to do if it wasn’t for EMA. It’s really taken the pressure off. I think it’s brilliant!” If you are 16 and looking to go to college or sixth form, the Education Maintenance Allowance could mean up to £30 a week for you. Call 080 810 16 2 19 or visit www.direct.gov.uk/ema for information. THE UK CHARITY AWARDS 2005 Charity Times is please to host the 6th annual UK Charity Awards Gala dinner and presentations on 22 September 2005, in the Great Room at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London. The evening will take the format of a gala dinner, followed by presentation of the awards by a celebrity host. Attended by some 750 individuals working in the sector, this is the largest awards ceremony in the charity calendar, endorsed and supported by leading suppliers to the sector, charity sector membership organisations, celebrities, politicians and royalty alike. The UK Charity awards are designed to recognise and reward excellence in the management and co-ordination of all the charitable activities. The awards incorporate the whole range of charitable work from investment, fundraising and campaigning through to use of technology and the application of sound business principles. In addition, recognition is afforded to those professional service companies working most creatively and effectively within the sector. They feel it is important for excellence to be both encouraged and rewarded. Reflecting this belief, the awards provide the charity sector with a dedicated event of its own, rewarding the work carried out in difficult and competitive conditions, and establishes a unique annual congress of the pre-eminent figures in the sector at the premier charity event of the year. Visit www.charitytimes.com for information. For sponsorship opportunities contact Ross Stevenson 0207 426 0101 Email: ross.stevenson@chairtytimes.com For awards and table info contact Martin Davies 0207 426 0424 Email: martin.davies@charitytimes.com The closing date for entries is Friday 20 May 2005, FUNDERFINDER Funderfinder is available at the LCVYS office to all member organisations during office hours. To arrange a convenient time call 01772 250001 or email enquiries@lcvys.org.uk Also available - access to: the internet; printers; photocopier and fundraising resources - software, manuals, cd roms etc. CONFERENCE Learning, Participation and Policy: International Trends in Lifelong Learning and their Implications for the UK Monday 9 May 2005 One Whitehall Place, Whitehall, London Lifelong learning policies are generally seen as of increasing importance, to industrial and industrialising countries alike. For the industrialised world, OECD has had considerable influence in raising the profile of lifelong learning through its monitoring of relevant trends and analyses of significant current and future policy issues. This event is the first of an annual series of NIACE and OECD collaborations to ensure that the implications of international developments are available to policy-makers and practitioners in the UK. The conference will review CERI’s recent work on lifelong learning, looking specifically at its development of futures thinking, the implications of brain science for lifelong learning, and its work to strengthen evidence based policy-making. In addition we will look at the results of OECD’s thematic review of lifelong learning in member states, in which the UK is participating. This conference will be of interest to: Policy-makers, Managers, Practitioners, Academics, Researchers For further information visit the NIACE website: www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/LPP.htm Or contact Gurjit Kaur on Tel: 0116 2042833 mailto:gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk CHARITIES BILL FAILS TO BECOME LAW The Charities Bill has failed to become law because government business managers made no provision in the parliamentary time-table for the report stage and third reading of the Charities Bill in the House of Lords, making it impossible for it to become law before the general election. According to Third Sector magazine, the Labour Party and Conservative Party have both given undertakings that they will reintroduce the Charities Bill at an early stage if they form the next government after the election. www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=14210 CAF FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS WORKSHOP An Introduction to Investments on Wednesday 27 April 2005 at Kings Fund, London CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) is hosting a workshop designed to give charities a greater understanding of financial investments. The workshop covers the basic principles of successful investing, as well as offering an overview of the current economic environment. CAF investment experts will examine a number of key issues including Charity Commission guidelines, trustees' responsibilities, the different types of investment available, measuring risk and understanding financial performance. The workshop is designed for trustees, treasurers and financial controllers with little or no investment experience, to gain greater confidence when taking their first steps into the investment arena. Delegates will each receive a free copy of CAF's Investment Guide which has been written specifically to help small and medium-sized voluntary organisations. It explains the different investment options available and contains a glossary of terms. Places cost £100 per delegate and include a buffet lunch. For information or to book a place, call the CAF Events Team on 01732 520074 Email: events@cafonline.org Website: www.cafonline.org/workshops WHAT A PICTURE! Photographers required in the north-west Step Up, the north west schools’ festival is looking for region wide happy snappers to help them break a world record this summer. Step Up was already on course to breaking the current Guinness World Record for the largest photography exhibition when it was dramatically broken by a Sri Lankan show totalling over 32,000 images. The festival organisers are now appealing to local people to make their contributions to the colossal show – which will take place at Great Northern Warehouse in Manchester from 1 - 10 July 2005. Anyone can contribute images to the exhibition, which will be themed around the title A Child of Our Time and will explore what it means to be young in the north west. Individuals can submit up to five pictures, all of which must be at least 10 cm by 15 cm. There must be a young person showing in every photograph, although it does not have to be the whole person. Photocopies cannot be accepted and the closing date for entries is 13 May 2005. Photos are to be submitted to Jo Clements, Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Peel Park, Salford M5 4WU. More information at www.stepuponline.org.uk ATTENTION ALL MENTORING & BEFRIENDING PROJECTS Mentoring and/or befriending can really make a difference in your community. Schemes work by pairing an individual with another who is in need of support. Are you already involved in a similar scheme and would appreciate some extra guidance or are you looking to set up a programme? The Mentoring & Befriending Foundation North West can help with a new FREE service to encourage and support organisations by: ? Assessing training needs ? Assistance in achieving the Approved Provider Standard, a national benchmark for organisations providing one to one volunteer mentoring ? The opportunity to network, share information and good practice with similar groups in the UK To discuss how we can support you please contact Anna at the Mentoring & Befriending Foundation North West Tel: 01254 584088 Email: Anna.Richards@mandbf.org.uk Anna Richards, Mentoring & Befriending, Foundation North West, Darwen House, Walker Business Park, Guide, Blackburn, BB1 2QE INKINDDIRECT Below is a list of some of the things that have been available in recent catalogues. 1000 white C6 gummed envelopes @ £10.00, 17 inch (refurbished) monitor @ £50.00, or 15 inch refurbished) monitor @ £30.00, 3 Berghaus rucksacks @ £20.00, 4 foldable aluminium skate scooters @ £15.00, 2 Braun steam irons @ £15.00, 36 Disney movie character cuddly toys @ £15.00, 3 Women’s Berghaus fleece jackets size 8, 10 and 12 @ £15.00, 2000 food bags @ £15.00, 5 Battery operated shaver pack @ £12.00, 5 Kids musical electric toothbrushes @ £15.00. Also - Microsoft software, stationery, sportswear, toiletries, rolls of material, laptop cases, batteries, power tools, duvet sets, plastic plates and much more. The catalogue is available to browse by prior arrangement at the LCVYS office in Preston between 10 am and 4 pm every weekday or we can arrange a time suitable to you. Call LCVYS on 01772 250001. LPSA TARGET 11A FUNDING FOR THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR – APRIL 2005 TO MARCH 2006 Funding for the support of Young People’s Accreditation is available from the Accreditation Network – the fund is divided into 3 categories Fund Type A- Groups/Organisation* – leader training – necessary training for leaders to be able to deliver accredited out comes – e.g. BCU awards etc Fund Type B - Groups/Organisation * – Young Peoples accreditation – to support the delivery of work leading to accredited outcomes – e.g. the additional cost to a residential to offer accreditation, award booklets etc Fund Type C - Groups/Organisation * – to support data collection e.g. umbrella organisation licences, administration of data collection where numbers are large and the data is from different sources i.e. Girlguiding, Scouts, LACYP etc *Group/Organisation – any group/Organisation that is either eligible in their own right or as a member of an eligible umbrella organisation (ie LCVYS, LYA, LACYP etc), who will be using the money obtained to develop or record the accredited outcomes of young people aged 13 to 19 living in Lancashire (Lancashire County Council area). For an application form please contact: Tracy Cowle, Training & Development Manager, Lancashire Youth Association, 10 Fishergate Hill, PRESTON PR1 8JB Tel: 01772 208597 Fax: 01772 251334 Email: tracyc@lya.org.uk AOL INNOVATION IN THE COMMUNITY AWARDS Deadline: 6 June 2005 The Internet is a powerful tool for voluntary organisations - not just for building awareness and fundraising, but also for helping the people they serve. With this in mind, AOL UK and the national charity Citizens Online work together to help charities and community groups across the UK make the most of the Internet through the annual AOL Innovation in the Community Awards. They are offering 30 awards packages of £2,000 plus AOL Broadband for a year, so if you have a brilliant idea about how the Internet could make a significant difference to your community or if you would like to progress an existing Internet project, please get in touch with them. Over the past 2 years, the awards have supported a diverse range of projects, including Web-based learning, mobile Internet units, and online support networks. With broadband now widely available across the UK, the high speed Internet offers even more exciting opportunities. This year, the judges will once again be looking for innovation and impact. So, think creatively about how your organisation can harness the power of the Internet and let us know how your community will benefit. For information on the awards, on how to apply, and to download the application form: www.aol.co.uk/about/community/innovation CHILDREN’S FUND LOCAL NETWORK Deadline Approaching Friday 29th April 2005 Do you need between £250 and £7,000? Are you a small community group in the Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen or Blackpool areas? Can you organise projects or activities that directly benefit disadvantaged children or young people? If the answer to these questions is yes, then the Children’s Fund Local Network may be able to help. For an application pack telephone 0845 113 0161. The Local Network Fund covers the Lancashire area including Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen and targets children and young people aged 0 – 19 years who are recognised as facing disadvantage. The next deadlines for application are: Friday 15 July 2005 Friday 30 September 2005 This fund is currently being directly administered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, with outreach and support provided by LCVYS. Funding is available to help improve children’s lives in Lancashire, through the Children’s Fund Local Network. The Children’s Fund Local Network has been set up by the Department of Education to help tackle child poverty. The four main themes are: Aspirations and experiences, Economic disadvantage, Isolation and access, Children’s voices The priorities of the Fund are: First time applications, Disadvantaged wards, Minority ethnic groups For help with any aspect of the application procedure call the LCVYS office Y SPEAK CONSULTATION FUND The Y Speak consultation fund from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is to continue to be managed by Changemakers until March 2006. Grants are available to help give young people a say about policies and services which affect them. Application deadlines 30 June and 29 September 2005. Visit www.changemakers.org.uk/aboutcm/who/news.php#yspeak_news The Y SPEAK Consultation Fund is a government funded scheme which supports the involvement of young people in decision making at national, regional and local levels and helps to ensure that they have a say in the policies and services that affect them. Organisational Y SPEAK grants give organisations working with young people the opportunity to facilitate a dialogue between young people and decision makers. Grants of up to £7,500 for national projects and £10,000 for international projects are available. Applicants must be not for profit, voluntary or community sector organisations or national/local charitable trusts. Statutory bodies, and their agencies are not eligible for funding. Individual Y SPEAK grants enable young people themselves or groups of young people to deliver their own consultation activities. Applicants must be aged between 16 and 19, and the Fund is only available for applicants in England. Grants of up to £3,000 for national projects and £4,000 for international projects are available. BIG LOTTERY FUND CONFIRMS NEW FUNDING PROGRAMMES FOR ENGLAND The Big Lottery Fund has announced the first wave of funding within its new framework to deliver new funding programmes for 2005 – 2009, the first of which will be introduced later this year. Demand-led programmes and streams will account for one third of all funding UK-wide. The Fund’s themes and outcomes and the results from the consultation will provide the policy framework, with the emphasis on projects identifying needs and offering solutions to local issues. The level of prescription will be minimal, allowing a broad range of applicants and projects to apply. The Fund has committed to the principle of full cost recovery and will provide funding for all relevant costs associated with delivering projects we support. The remaining two thirds of funding in England will be allocated to a range of strategic programmes which will allow specific policy areas to be supported in a more targeted way. The areas decided so far for strategic funding include: Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure (£155million) Following the public consultation and detailed discussions with key infrastructure bodies, the Big Lottery Fund’s Board has agreed that VCS infrastructure should form a strategic funding initiative in England, covering financing advice, resource centres, developing generic infrastructure in areas currently without it, sharing learning and best practice, governance and cross sector partnership influencing. Children’s Play (£155million) Based on the recommendations of the report Getting Serious about Play, the Fund will invest £155 million in England over 3 years in the establishment of a strategic fund to create and improve local children’s play spaces in areas of greatest need. Grants will be awarded to projects to develop, create, improve and design innovative children’s play facilities with the aim of providing free local play provision for youngsters. Environmental Programmes (£354 million) Funding programmes will be developed to enable the Fund to meet the outcome of "improved rural and urban environments, which communities are better able to access and enjoy.” This area of funding will include £90 million of funding for parks, which will run in conjunction with the Heritage Lottery Fund, building on their successful parks programme. This extra funding will allow the programme to expand and provide support for a wider range of projects across the country. The remaining funding will focus on projects that support and develop community spaces; local community enterprise, including local food production and farming; and access to the natural environment aimed at the conservation and enhancement of the natural landscape with improved access for everyone. Wellbeing Programmes (£165 million) In response to the consultation process, the Fund has identified a number of priorities to support "healthier and more active people and communities". These will include encouraging healthier lifestyles through community sport, physical activity and healthy eating; an intervention programme for common mental health conditions; supporting sustainable and active travel initiatives, that will enable more people to walk and cycle as part of their everyday lives; and a focus on alcohol harm reduction. International Grants (£60 million). The International grants programme will be increased to £20 million a year from next year. The programme, which will combine both demand-led and strategic elements, will retain its focus on health, education, natural resources and human rights while adding a new priority of economic empowerment. Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888. Out of hours contact: 07788 184 210. Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030. Textphone: 0845 6021 659 Visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE FUND Community Futures is administering this new project, which aims to support community groups who wish to develop Social Enterprise type initiatives across Lancashire. The programme aims to identify and support the most deprived communities and groups within rural Lancashire. Applications are welcome from anywhere within the County, priority will be given to groups in Rossendale, Wyre and West Lancashire. These areas were identified as being of greatest need in two recently published reports that identified the most deprived, isolated and under resourced rural communities in Palatine Lancashire. For information call Gillian Smith, Community Development Officer on 01772 717461 or email gillians@communityfutures.org.uk, who would like to hear from any community groups, within Lancashire, who are hoping to develop an income generating project. ARGOS IN THE COMMUNITY Argos focuses on charities and groups that help young people get the best opportunities in life, for better health, education and environment - especially projects that offer support to local communities in both the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Support is only given to registered charities and non profit making organisations. The charities supported must focus on children in the areas of health related issues, education, disadvantaged groups, or improve environment conditions. Applications by charities or non profit groups are restricted to one per year. National charities are restricted to requests from their Head office only. All charitable requests must be made using the Argos Charitable Donation Application Form available on the Argos website www.argos.co.uk They are unable to accept requests in any other format. FUTUREBUILDERS - NEW APPLICATION WINDOW Futurebuilders is a £125M Home Office backed investment fund for developing the capacity of the Voluntary and Community Sector to deliver public services. Futurebuilders aims to improve public service delivery through long term investment in the voluntary and community sector in England. Voluntary and community organisations are well placed to deliver certain types of public service, however, they often need investment before they can be in a position to tender for contracts or earn fees from public sector agencies. Futurebuilders aims to invest in the 5 public service delivery areas: Community cohesion; Crime; Education and learning; Health and social care; Support for children and young people. Loan funding is a substantial part of all Futurebuilders investment, often complemented by grants and always backed up by support to help voluntary organisations manage loan funding and move towards long term sustainability. The next Futurebuilders application window will open on 1 June 2005 and will close on 30 September 2005. The new application form is available on the website www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk, to help you prepare your application in plenty of time for 1 June. Email: info@futurebuilders-england.org.uk or call 0191 261 5200 weekdays between 10:00am and 4:00pm (10:00 am to 12 noon only on Thursdays). COMMUNITY TREES FUND 2005 Financial assistance for tree planting projects Thanks to the generosity of several anonymous donors, the Tree Council have funds available to assist community groups proposing to undertake well planned tree planting projects starting in 2005 in National Tree Week, 23 November to 4 December. The Tree Council is particularly concerned that the projects should actively engage children in the planting of the trees. This could be formal groups, such as cubs, guides or youth clubs; alternatively it could be a community team assembled for the purpose of the project. The Community Trees Fund is open to projects where tree planting costs are between £100 and £700. Any applications where the £700 limit is exceeded will automatically be discounted, even if funds are available from another source to cover the excess. Satisfactory evidence that you are able to meet 25% of the funds needed to carry out your complete tree planting project must be provided. There is no advantage to be gained by submitting an application before you are able to assure us that the necessary funding is available, as all satisfactorily completed applications received will be considered together immediately after the closing date of 31 May 2005. The Tree Council offers a similar scheme to plant trees in school grounds with similar grant conditions and limits. Full details and application forms are available from the website www.treecouncil.org.uk. The Tree Council, 71 Newcomen Street, London, SE1 1YT Tel: 020 7828 9928 Fax: 020 7828 9060 Email: info@treecouncil.org.uk NCVO FUNDING FOR INCOME GENERATION Applications can now be submitted for the second round of the Only Connect Scheme at NCVO's Sustainable Funding Project sponsored by Triodos Bank. Voluntary sector organisations are being offered up to £150 to meet one another and explore ideas around income generation in a fun and practical way, through an initiative run by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations’ (NCVO) Sustainable Funding Project. Only Connect is a small bursary scheme, sponsored by Charity banking specialists Triodos Bank. It enables voluntary and community organisations to visit another organisation with a proven track record in making money from trading. NCVO is now encouraging more charities and voluntary organisations to join the scheme, and aims to award five bursaries every three months, in three-month periods until November 2006. The next period is now open for applications, and closes on 6 May 2005. The sector earned £8.9 billion of its total income from fees for goods and services in 2001/02. To apply for the scheme, download the application form from the Sustainable Funding Project's website www.ncvo-sfp.org.uk and outline why connecting with another organisation could increase your organisation's income through trading goods and services. Visiting organisations must source the organisation they would like to visit, and will be given up to £100 travel expenses. Organisations that agree to host the visits receive a 'consultation fee' of £150 for their advice and time. DISCLAIMER While LCVYS and its Members use their best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein, LCVYS hereby disclaims any liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence or other causes. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, LCVYS does not in any way vouch for the information supplied by Members about their organisations, or for the quality of their youth work. LCVYS reserves the right to edit. Please notify us about any perceived errors or omissions.